Soil Chemical Attributes in Response to Tree Distance and Sun-Exposed Faces After the Implantation of an Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry System

Abstract

The use of trees in integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems (ICLF) allows diversifying production, increasing profitability per area, and providing a higher animal comfort. However, the influence of tree component on soil chemical attributes in this system is still little studied. This study aimed to assess the effect of trees and sun-exposed faces to solar radiation on soil nutrient availability at different distances of tree rows in an integrated crop-livestock-forestry system. This study was carried out in the northern Mato Grosso State, Brazil, in the Cerrado - Amazon Forest transition region in an ICLF with the tree component formed by three eucalyptus rows. The assessment carried out in the second year of ICLF implantation considered the effect of tree distances (3, 6, 10, and 15 m) on two sun-exposed faces to solar radiation (north and south) on the main soil chemical attributes. Soil sampling was performed at depths of 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30 m. The results indicated a homogeneity of the average nutrient contents obtained in the north and south-exposed faces, as well as in the comparison of the same distances in both assessed sun-exposed faces. Effects of trees on soil chemical attributes were verified only when an isolated analysis was carried out in the north-exposed face for K and Al contents. For these attributes, the increased distance in the row was associated with a reduction in their contents in the more superficial and deeper layers, respectively. Trees do not significantly affect soil nutrient availability in the first years of ICLF implantation in systems with homogeneity of solar radiation incidence in the sun-exposed faces although there may be discrete nutrient reductions with the distance of trees.

Sampling representativeness of soil carbon and physiological parameters of marandu palisadegrass in a tropical silvopastoral system

“…According to Moreira et al (2018), the forest component within the system could affect the availability of nutrients for the other crops. This availability varies according to the distance from the tree, and significant changes in soil properties occur nearer the trees, due to greater litter deposition and lower exposure to solar radiation, factors that influence litter decomposition.…”

Quantification of damage and initial growth of eucalyptus in integrated crop-livestock-forest systems in the Brazilian Cerrado

“…These agroforestry systems has received the attention of farmers and researchers due to its greater versatility in the use and productivity of the areas, considering all the components involved (Moreira et al 2018). The ICLF system also provides improvements in the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil, prevents erosion, promotes carbon sequestration, the conservation of water resources and biodiversity, in addition to several technical, economic and social bene ts (Serra et al 2012;Almeida et al 2021).…”

Intensification and diversification of degraded pasture areas in Brazil: potential of soil C accumulation and mitigation of the climate changes

“…These initiatives are in compliance with up to date exploration strategies, such as the concept of ecosystem services . Besides, some studies in Brazil have already showed positive effects of adoption of more intensive and diversified pasture management systems over C sequestration Ghahramania and Bowranb, 2018), as well as over soil chemical (e.g., N, P and K) Moreira et al, 2018) and biochemical (e.g., soil enzyme activities, C an N stored in the microbial biomass) (Acosta-Martínez et al, 2010; properties. Nevertheless, knowledge about the relationships between chemical and biochemical properties with soil microorganisms under more intensive and diversified pasture management systems remains unclear, especially in the different edaphoclimatic conditions of Brazil (Melillo et al, 2017).…”